Exhibition opens of collector's Olympic paraphernalia

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Beijing-based collector Hou Kun is living his dream. Five years ago, then 23-year-old Hou started collecting Olympic medals, torches and other novelties. Three years later, he quit his job as human resources officer at a financial firm and set up a company promoting his Olympic wares full time. So committed is Hou to the cause, he's midway through a globetrotting journey to visit all 40 Olympic host cities.

Hence Hou's visit to Hong Kong. He has brought 50 Olympic medals to the city for an exhibition in Sheung Shui's Landmark North mall, which opens today and runs until August 20.

'I was fascinated by the stories behind each medal, as well as their cultural influences,' he said. 'China has been so closely connected to the Games.'

Some of the highlights from his collection include the first 1896 Athens Olympic medal and a 1908 London Olympic Gold medal.

But turning his hobby into a career wasn't all smooth sailing. 'I started off collecting novelties worth only hundreds or thousands of Chinese yuan; and it wasn't until I started the company two years ago that I got the chance to meet and acquire from all the Olympic medalists and medal collectors. But these are the things I'm truly passionate about so the hard work has paid off,' he said.